Patriots Notebook: Saints' Graham presents a big challenge

The Patriots might get their own unique tight end back this weekend, but there will be another one to contend with across the ball.

By Tim Whelan Jr./Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Tim Whelan Jr./Daily News staff

Posted Oct. 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 10, 2013 at 10:01 AM

By Tim Whelan Jr./Daily News staff

Posted Oct. 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 10, 2013 at 10:01 AM

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The Patriots might get their own unique tight end back this weekend, but there will be another one to contend with across the ball.

Until Rob Gronkowski’s back and producing, the unofficial title of league’s best tight end goes to Jimmy Graham, a big reason the Saints are 5-0.

"He’s big, he’s fast, he’s very athletic; excellent ball skills, especially down the field," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of the 6-foot-7, 265-pound Graham. "He can go up and rebound the ball away from pretty much anybody. They throw him a lot of jump ball-type plays. He’s quick, he’s a big target, he’s a hard guy to cover, no question."

Graham played for the University of Miami basketball team from 2005 to 2009, not even hitting the gridiron for the Hurricanes until taking graduate classes in the fall of ’09.

He made enough of an impression to become a third-round pick of the Saints in 2010, and has been wreaking havoc ever since. He might have saved his best for this season, as he already has 37 catches (on 54 targets) for 593 yards and six touchdowns.

While Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib has matched up on the likes of elite receivers Vincent Jackson, Julio Jones, Roddy White and A.J. Green in recent weeks, Graham poses a whole new set of challenges.

"He’s so tough because of what he is," Talib said. "He’s 6-10, 250, 260 or whatever, and he’s got ball skills out of this world. That’s the main thing that makes him so tough."

From what Belichick has seen, his success has come despite defenses’ best efforts to stop him. As Belichick noted, he is often split out as a wide receiver.

"Everybody has tried everything: tried to jam him at the line, at times he’s had linebackers on him, safeties on him, double cover him. Each team’s kind of got some of their own matchups," Belichick said. "But he’s seen a lot of different coverages — man, zone, in-and-out, short-and-deep, jam at the line of scrimmage — he’s seen all of it."

Patriots sign DT Neblett

With Vince Wilfork out for the season and Tommy Kelly missing practice Wednesday as a result of a knee injury he suffered during Sunday’s 13-6 loss at Cincinnati, the Patriots are thin at defensive tackle. On Wednesday, they made a move, signing free agent Andre Neblett.

In addition, the Patriots re-signed LB Ja’Gared Davis and S Kanorris Davis to the practice squad, who were each released from the 53-man roster Monday.

Page 2 of 2 - Neblett, 25, played three years for the Panthers after being an undrafted free agent out of Temple in in 2010. The 6-foot, 310-pounder signed with Tampa Bay as an unrestricted free agent in May, only to be released by the Buccaneers on Aug. 31. In his three years in Carolina, Neblett played in 30 games with seven starts, registering 28 total tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Last season, he played in 11 games with two starts and recorded 11 tackles and a half-sack.